This is one of the most cherished photos i have in my collection.
This is a Tin Type (tin photo), Post Mortem Photograph. (yes, that means the little boy in the photo is deceased. the photo was taken after he passed away.)
The little boy was about 3 or 4 when he passed away. The photo was most likely taken the day of his funeral/burial. Unfortunately, i do not know his name.
I love post mortem photography, i find it to be very intriguing.
(I dont want to hear any 'ew gross' comments, take them somewhere else!!)

I purchased him at a huge antique sale in Kansas.

I collect antique/vintage photographs.
the copyright on photos expires after 50 years. i am scanning photos i have collected for you to use in your works (just follow the rules in my journal).
This collection of vintage photos were taken between 1870 and 1940
(any other info i know about the photo will be shared ^_~ )
Enjoy!

This stock is free to use.
If you use it link it back to me (as in give me credit for the stock with a link =Falln-Stock or my icon in the description)
& note me with a link of the pic you used it in.
I would like to see what you used my stock for ^_^
*for further rules check my journal*

I redo vintage photos. I find the photos interesting. I have come across many post mortem photos mostly of children. When I first seen them, I thought how creepy. But, now I understand that for a lot of people these photos were just part of their way to remember the deceased especially since there were a lot of people who had limited access to photography at the time. The photos of the children still make me sad.

I'm not going to say "ewww gross" because I too find these photo's intriguing, yet disturbing as well. As an anthropologist, I think post mortem photography is a reflection of the victorian cultural mindset as dictated by the way their society was constructed. To most Victorians, the question of life after death was moot. They went to church, they sincerely believed the souls of their loved ones ascended to heaven, so to photograph the empty vessel of the body was not degrading or disgusting to them, it was merely memorialising an empty shell and giving the family a focus for their mourning and remembrance. And they mourned with a vengence in that era too, another interesting aspect of Victorian society.

I think this is wonderful, I am currently basing my first year work on post mortem images and if it would be ok with you falln-stock I would love to use this image within my work. I think it is sad how our views on death have shifted so drastically since the Victorian period, I see love and respect in these images not morbid obsession as some do. I think it is a healthy approach to dealing with death. Thank you for sharing this with us.

I think this is wonderful, I am currently basing my first year work on post mortem images and if it would be ok with you falln-stock I would love to use this image within my work. I think it is sad how our views on death have shifted so drastically since the Victorian period, I see love and respect in these images not morbid obsession as some do. I think it is a healthy approach to dealing with death. Thank you for sharing this with us.

I found a postmortem tintype of a baby today at an antique shop. I have somewhat of a hangup with Victorian postmortem photography so I just about died (ha ha) when I saw they had that. They want $18 for it which I unfortunately can't afford, but it was still an awesome find.

In south Italy is a tradition having pictures of dead relatives on a big bedside table in the bedroom. A lot of pictures, I mean, with frames and all the stuff. I find it quite creepy, honestly... They're there while you sleep, "watching" you...

Post mortem was very common back then, because the people didn't have a chance to take a portrait with the deceased before their death. They would also paint eyes on their eyelids or stand them up with wooden posts to make them look alive.

While i was reconstructing the pic, i could not stop thinking of him, and about his death... i felt sad while doing this, and it was the first time i felt this emotion while doing something i really love. It was very weird

When you think of the purpose of post-mortem photographs, it's really rather sweet. Many people, beyond the very rich, could not afford family portraits, even if the entire family contributed to the costs. Funerary photographs were offered as part of a funeral practices much cheaper, so it would usually be the only way in which families would be able to have mementos of their families. That's why the majority of post mortem photos, especially ones featuring children, the subject would be posted standing, sitting, or lying as if asleep, and the family would be posed around them. If they eyes were closed, pupils would often be painted upon the eyelids so it would appear the subjects were alive.

In relation, do you know of places where I could purchase Victorian post-mortem photos, often called Memento Mori? I would really like to begin a collection myself.

A good place to look is ebay, however they can sometimes be rather expensive there. They are pricey anyway. Sometimes you can get lucky and a local antique store might have them, or may have access to have them brought in. Also try looking for sellers on websites.

These old vintage post mortem photos are usually very beautiful and poignant. They were done in a day when death was a common part of life, and the dead were laid out at home. These photos are often the only thing the parents will have to remember their child or lovedone.

If you'd like i'd love to restore the digital version of the photo, "i'll make it look like day it was taken" as i usually say to all my ol customers. It's been a few months since but i think i'm having resoration withdrawls. So by fixing this picture up, we'd feed both our interest further into the details of his brief life. (most of the time important details in a photo are lost with time, especially with tin pictures) And if i'm allowed i will send you a full resolution version of before and after, B&W sepia and hand coloured.......yes i have no social life. Hope to talk you soon